Continuously operating strip mill



Sept 10. l940- A. F. KENYo'N ET AL 2214,51 8

GONTINUOUSLY OPERATING STRIP MILL Filed Aug. 28, --193'7 l wlTNEssEs:

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INVENTORS A/onzo E /fe//yvn ma Patented Sept. 10, 1940 UNITED A, STATES PATENT OFFICE coNrlNuoUsLY OPERATING s'mn MILL Application August 28, 1937, Serial No. 161,442

10 Claims.

Our invention relates, generally, to rolling mills and, more particularly, to a system for providing continuous full speed operation of a strip rolling mill.

In rolling strip material and particularly in rolling cold strip material, it is common practice to roll strips of such length as can be conveniently wound on a single reel. The end of the strip is first threaded through the rolls `and l. started on a winding reel and then the strip is passed between the rolls With tension applied to the strip on both sides of each roll,

It will be seen that the ends of each length of strip rolled by this method will be thicker than the rest of the' strip for the reason that the proper tension cannot be applied to the leading end as it is being threaded through the rolls and on the trailing end as it leaves the reel and is pulled jf, through the rolls. These thick ends cause considerable waste of material since there are two of these off-gauge ends for each reel rolled.

This method of rolling also entails avery considerable loss of production resulting from the fact that the rolls must be stopped, threaded and I started each time a reel of material is rolled.

An object of our invention is to provide a strip rolling system in which the above-named disadvantages will be obviated.

, Another object of our invention is to provide n' an effective means for permitting a strip rolling mill to run continuously.

A further object of our invention is to provide a continuously-operating strip rolling mill with an eifective means for winding the rolled strip upon a plurality of reels as it is delivered by the mill.

Another object of our invention is to provide a take-up means for a continuous strip rolling mill which shall function to take up or accumulate a 40 sui'licient quantity of rolled strip between the last roll stand and the winding reel so that the mill may continue to operate while one part of the strip is substantially stopped, sheared and started on another reel. f

Another object of our invention is to provide a take-up device for a continuous strip rolling mill which shall function to take-up or accumulate suillcient strip between the iirst roll stand of the mill and the unwinding reel to feed the 50 mill continuously while the trailing end of the strip is stopped and attached to the leading end of the next reel of strip.

A fur-ther object of our invention is to provide a continuous strip rolling mill with a feeding Il means which shall function to successively secure (Cl. Sli-31.1)

a plurality of lengths of .'"rip together in endto-end relation as the strip is being fed into the mill to provide a continuous length of strip for the mill.

These and other objects and advantages of our 6 invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters designate simnar parts and elements of structure, and in which: 10

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the elements and their functional relationships of the preferred embodiment of our invention, and

Figs. 2 and 3 are diagrammatic illustrations of l l two modifications of the system shown in Fig. l.

In carrying out our invention, we provide a continuous strip rolling mill having means for providing forward and back tension on the stri; as it passes through the mill, with means fo. joining reels of strip together -as the strip is continuously fed tothe mill and winding the stri; on a plurality of reels as it is continuously delivered from the mill. In the modiiications takeup means are provided to facilitate the joining of the successive reels to make a continuous strip and to facilitate Winding the strip onto the several reels asl it is delivered from the mill.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing, the strip I I is unwound from reel I2 as it is passed through the series of roll stands I 3 of a continuous or tandem mill and is wound upon reel I4 as it is delivered from the last roll stand. In this instance a front tension is maintained on the strip I I, as it leaves the last roll stand, by a straightening device I5. It is to be understood that any other suitable tensioning device may be used instead of the parti-cular device shown so long as it will function to provide the proper tension on the strip as it is delivered from the rolls. Back tension is maintained on the strip I I by a tensioning device I6 which may be a series of straightening rolls or any other `suitable tensioning device. Suitable tensioning means I'I and I8 may be provided for tensioning the strip as it passes between adjacent roll stands.

A iiying shear I9 is provided for cutting the strip when the desired amount of material has been wound upon the reel I4. Any suitable means well known in the art may be used for controlling the operation of this shear.

In order to provide for suitably joining the trailing end of the length of strip II to the leading end of the next roll or coil of strip to be rolled land thereby eliminate the stopping of the mill 55 as each coil is rolled, a joining device 2| is provided.

This device preferably provides for squaring the ends of the strips, joining them together in a permanent manner and smoothing and reducing the joint to the same thickness as the other por-` tions of the strips. In other words, the device may take the form of a combination shear, welding and grinding or milling device.

The shearing element of the device, shown diagrammatically at 23, is used to trim or square the trailing end of the strip and the leading end of the next coil of strip on the reel 22, so that these ends may be properly matched for welding. Any suitable and well known shearing device may be used for this purpose.

The welding element 24 may be any conventional welding device, such as a butt flash welding machine, which will properly weld the trailing end of the strip and the leading end of the strip from the reel 22 together.

The grinding element 25 may be any suitable device for grinding the welded joint in the strip I I so as to make the strip smooth and of uniform thickness throughout its length. Any other suitable device, such for example, as a planing or milling machine may be used instead of the grinder.

The shear, welder and grinder are mounted on a common carriage 26 which is supported by rollers 21, so that it may move along with the strip II as it moves toward the first roll stand and thus connect the ends of the strips together while the mill is in operation.

In the operation o. the device, when the trailing end of the strip II runs off of reel I2, it is trimmed by shear 23 as the shear is moved along with the strip II, then the leading end of the strip from reel 22 is trimmed by shear 23, these ends are placed in the welding element 24 and welded together, then the welded joint is ground down by the grinder 25.

The distance between the reel I2 and the tensioning device I6 is sufcient to provide room for movement of the device 2| along with the strip II while the shearing, welding and grinding operations are being carried out. After the joint is finished, the strip II continues to move through the rolls without interruption.

When the strip I I has built up on reel I4 sumciently or when a predetermined length of the strip has been wound upon reel I4, the flying shear I9 is operated to cut the strip and the new end of the strip is started on another reel 28 while the strip is in motion.

In Fig. 2 there is shown an alternative method of permitting the welding of the ends of the strip together as it is fed to the mill in which a take-` up deviceis provided. In this modification the strip II is unwound from reel I2 through pinch rolls 29 and onto a take-up device 3| before passing through the rst roll stand. The takeup device may comprise a series of weighted rollers 32 and idler rollers 33, as shown.

In the operation of the device shown in Fig. 2, when a new reel is started a sufficient length of the strip then being rolled is permitted to be taken-up on the take-up device 3| to provide a suiiicient supply of strip II for a continuous feed to the mill I3 while the operations of trimming, welding and grinding are carried out, with the trailing end of the strip I I held stationary by the operation of the pinch rolls 29.

As the strip II is fed to the take-up device, the weighted rollers 32 move downward t0 the dotted line position shown and while the welding process is being carried out with the ends which are being welded held stationary, the weighted rollers 32 move upwardly as the strip material is continuously fed through the mill. The takeup device 3| also serves as a back tensioning means for the strip II before it entersthe first roll stand. In this modification, it is not necessary that the device 2| be movable since the ends of the strips are held stationary by the pinch rolls 29 while the processes of trimming, welding and grinding are taking place.

In Fig. 3 there is shown another method of winding the material upon the reels I4 and 23. In this modification a take-up device 4|, which is made up of floating weighted rollers 42 and idling rollers 43, is provided and operates in substantially the same manner as the take-up device 3| described in connection with the apparatus shown in Fig. 2. Pinch rolls 39 are provided for stopping the motoin of the strip when the desired amount of strip material has been wound upon reel I4. When it is desired to start a new reel, the pinch rolls 39 are operated to stop the material, a shear 44 is operated to cut the strip, the new end of the strip is started on reel 28, the pinch rolls 39 are released and the reel 28 Winds up the material which has been accumulating on the take-up device 4I.

It will be seen that it is necessary for the take-up device 4I to have sufficient capacity to take up the material which is delivered from the mill rolls during the time consumed in cutting the strip and starting it on the other reel 28.

It is to be understood that the stationary device 2| and take-up device 3| of Fig. 2 may be used in the system disclosed in Fig. 1 instead of the tensioning device I9 and the travelling device 2|, that the take-up device 4I and shear 44 of Fig. 3 may be used in the system of Fig. 1 instead of the tensioning device I5 and the flying shear I9, or that both the devices of Figs. 2 and 3 be used in the same system.

Since Athe various elements of these systems may be controlled in any well known manner it has been deemed unnecessary to illustrate or describe any particular control apparatus therefor.

It will be seen that we have provided an emcient means for supplying continuous strips of material to a strip rolling mill and have thus made it possible to materially increase the production of the mill by eliminating the necessity of having to stop and start the mill each time a comparatively short length of strip is run through the mill.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes, we have shown and described herein the preferred embodiments of our invention. It is understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise constructions there described, but is capable Vof modification by one skilled in the art, .the embodiments herein shown being merely illustrative of the principles of our invention.

We claim as our invention: y

1. In a strip rolling mill, means for operating the mill continuously in one direction, means for feeding a continuous strip to the mill commeans for winding the strip on a plurality of reels .as it is delivered by the mill, comprising means for stopping the motion of the strip adjacent the winding reel, means for cutting the strip adjacent the said reel so that a succeeding reel may be-wound, and means for taking up the strip between the reel and the roll while the strip is being cut and started on the succeeding winding reel.

2. In a rolling mill in which the mill operates continuously in one direction, means for feeding a continuous length of material to the mill and means for winding the material on a plurality of reels as it is continuously delivered by the mill, comprising means for stopping the motion o! the length of material adjacent the winding reel, means for cutting the length of material adjacent the reel so that a succeeding reel may be wound, and means for taking up the length of material between the reel and the mill while the length of material is being cut and started on the succeeding winding reel, said take-up means comprising means for maintaining a substantially constant front tension on the length of material as it is continuously delivered from the mill.

3. In a strip rolling mill, means for operating the mill continuously in one direction, means for 'feeding a continuous strip to the mill comprising means for taking up a quantity of strip between the mill and the trailing end of the strip, said take-up means comprising means for maintaining a substantially constant back tension on the strip as it is continuously fed to the mill, means for stopping the trailing end of the strip and securing to it the end of a succeeding reel of strip while the quantity of strip taken up by said take-up means is being fed to the mill, means for winding the strip on a plurality of reels as it is continuously delivered by the mill, comprising means for stopping the motion of the strip adjacent the winding reel, means for cutting the strip adjacent said winding reel so that a succeeding reel may be wound, and means for taking up the strip between the reel and the roll while the strip is being cut and started on the succeeding reel, said take-up means comprising means for maintaining a substantially constant front tension on the strip as it is -continuously delivered from the mill.

4. In a strip rolling mill having a plurality of reducing roll'stands, means for continuously exerting front and back tension on the strip between each adjacent pair of roll stands, means for operating the mill continuously in one direction, means for feeding a continuous strip to the mill comprising means for taking up a quantity of strip between the mill and the trailing end of the strip, said take-up means comprising means for maintaining a substantially constant back tension on the strip as it is continuously fed to the mill, means for stopping the trailing end of the strip and securing to it the endof a succeeding reel of strip while the quantity of strip taken up by said take-up means is being fed to the mill, means for winding the strip on a plurality of reels as it is delivered by the mill, comprising means for stopping the motion of the strip adjacent the Winding reel, means for cutting the strip adjacent said winding reel so that a succeeding reel may be Wound, and means for taking up the strip between the reel and the roll while the strip is being cut and started on the succeeding reel, said take-up means comprising means for maintaining a substantially constant front tension on the strip as it is continuously delivered from the `mll.

5. In a strip rolling mill having a plurality of reducing roll stands, means for continuously exerting front and back tension on the strip between each adjacent pair of roll stands, means for operating the mill continuously in'one direction, means for feeding a continuousstrip to the mill comprising means for taking up a quantity of strip between the mill and the trailing end of the strip, said take-up means comprising means for maintaining a substantially constant back tension on the strip as it is continuously fed to the mill, means for stopping the trailing end of the strip and securing to it the end of a succeeding reel of strip while the quantity of strip taken .up by said take-up means is being fed to the' mill, means for applying a continuous front tension on the strip/as it is continuously delivered by the mill, means for winding the strip on a plurality of reels as it is continuously delivered by the mill, comprising means for shearing the strip while itis in motion so that a succeeding reel may be wound by starting the new leading end of the strip on a succeeding reel While the said leading end is in motion.

6. The process of continuously rolling strip material which comprises operating a strip rolling mill continuously in one direction, providing a continuous supply of material for the mill, and winding the material on a plurality of reels as it is continuously delivered by the mill, said winding operation comprising stopping the moton of the strip adjacent a winding reel, cutting the strip adjacent the reel so that a succeeding reel may be wound, and taking up the strip between the reel and the mill while the strip is being cut and started on a succeeding winding reel.

7. The process of continuously rolling strip material comprising operating a strip rolling mill continuously in one direction, feeding a continuous strip to the mill by taking up a quantity of strip between the mill and the trailing end of the strip, stopping the trailing end of the strip and securing it to the leading end of a succeeding length of strip while the taken-up quantity of strip is being fed to the mill, winding the strip on a plurality of reels as it is continuously delivered by the mill, said winding operation comprising stopping the motion of the strip adjacent a winding reel, cutting the strip adjacent the reel so that a succeeding reel may be wound, and taking up the strip between the reel and the roll while the stripis being cut and started on a succeeding reel.

8. The process of continuously rolling strip material comprising continuously operating a rolling mill in one direction, feeding a continuous length of material to the mill and winding the material on a plurality of reels as it is continuously delivered by the mill, said winding operation comprising stopping the motion of the length of material adjacent a winding reel, cutting the length of material adjacent the reel so that a succeeding reel may be wound, and simultaneously taking-up the length of material between the reel and the mill while the length of material is being lcut and started on the succeeding reel and maintaining a substantially constant front tension on the length of material as it is continuously delivered from the mill.

9. The process of continuously rolling strip material comprising continuously operating a rolling mill in one direction, providing a continuous supply of strip for the mill by simultaneously taking up a quantity of strip between the min and the trailing end of the strip and maintaininga substantially constant back tension on the strip as it is continuously fed to the mill, stopping the' trailing end vof the strip and securing to it the end of a succeeding reel of strip while the quantityof strip taken-up is being fed to the mill, winding the rolled strip on a plurality of reels as it is continuously delivered by the mill, said winding operation comprising stopping the motion of the strip adjacent a winding reel, cutting the strip adjacent the winding reel so that a succeeding reel may be wound, and simultaneously taking-up the strip between the reel and the roll while the strip is being cut and started on a succeeding reel and maintaining a substantially constant front tension on the strip 'as it is continuously delivered from the mill.

10. The process of continuously rolling strip material in a strip rolling mill having a plurality of roll stands comprising continuously operating the rolls in one direction, subjecting the strip to front and back tension between each adjacent pair of roll stands. providing a continuous length of strip for the mill by .simultaneously taking up a quantity of strip between the first of the roll stands and the trailing end of the strip and maintaining a substantially constant back tension on the strip as it is continuously fed. to the rst roll stand, stopping the trailing endof the strip and securing it to the end of a succeeding length of strip to be rolled while the quantity of strip taken up is being fed to the mill, and winding the s trip on a plurality of reels as it is continuously delivered by the mill, the winding operation comprising stopping the motion of the strip adjacent a winding reel, cutting the strip adjacent the winding reel so that a succeeding reel may be wound, and simultaneously taking up the strip between the winding reel and the last roll stand of the mill while the strip is being AIQNZO F. KENYON. WILLARD G. COOK. 

